Towline



June 1 1926;

Filed March 19, 1925 l I a o M m f E f Pi .no ic.

2 Sheets-Sheet l Patented June 1, 1926.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM SCHWIER, OF LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA, ASSIGNOR F ONE-HALF TO",`

LEE B. COATS, OF LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA.

TOWLIN E.

Application filed March 19, 1925. Serial Nb. 16,757.

The object of the invention is to provide a device adapted for use as apermanent or fixed attachment to an auto vehicle as emergency equipmentso that, in the event of the machine equipped being disabled, readymeans may be provided for connection to a towing machine; t0 provide anemergency device of this character in which thek slack of the towingcable may be automatically cared foi1 to prevent the cable dragging onthe ground and possibly engaging some obstruction thereon in the eventof the machine at intervals acquiring a greater speed than the towingmachine; and to provide a device of this nature in which theconstruction is comparatively simple and therefore susceptible of beingproduced at small expense and marketed at small cost.

With this object in view, the. invention consists in a construction andcombination of parts of which a preferred embodiment is illustrated inthe accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a front elevational view of the device.

Figure 2 is a central transverse vertical sectional view through thesame.

Figure 3 is a vertical elevational view on the plane indicated by theline 3 3 of Figure 2. v l

Figure 4 is a detail perspective view of the detachable clamping elementconstituting an element of the means for securing the device to thevehicle.` l

Both the tow line 10 and the slack take-up and reel actuating spring 11are housed in a casing consisting of the complemental sections 12 and14, the tow line being carried on a reel' of which the shaft 15 ispreferably formed as an integral part of the hub 16 with which the sideflanges 17 of the reel are also preferably made integral. Obviously,however, the reel may be made separate from theshaft and secured theretoby any appropriate-attaching means.

The section 14 of the casing houses the reel and the cable and isprovided with a side bearing eye for thejournal portion 18 of the shaft,while the section 12 houses the spring 11 and is provided with a sidebearing eye for the journal portion 19 of the shaft, this journalportion, however, being slotted axially, as indicated at 20, to providearecess for the bolt 21 by means of which one extremity of the spring isfixed with relation to the shaft. One terminal of the spring 11 isconnected to the bolt and the latter passes diametrically through acollar- 22 disposed in surrounding relation to the shaft between onefiange 17 of the reel and the adjacent side wall of the casing.

The remote extremity of the spring is anchored, as by a loop and pinconnection 23, to the wall of thel section 12 of the casing. rIheperipheral wall of the casing is slotted, as indicated at 24, to providea feed opening for the cable or tow line 10, the latter being providedwith a grapple 25 at its free extremity forconnection with a part of thetowing vehicle. Y

Vhile the device is designed especially as a means by which the vehiclecarryingy it may be towed, it is also adapted as an emergency device fortowing a disabled vehicle when the vehicle equippedwith it is calledupon to do the towing.` Depending on its use, it is attached either atthe forward or the rear end4 of the equipped vehicle and' preferably tothe spring of the latter. To this end, the section 14 of the casing isvprovided with an upstanding ear 26 made preferably integral with thecasing section'and provided with a lateral sleeve extension 27 throughwhich the attached bolt 28 may pass. rlhe ear 26 and sleeve 27constitute oneof a pair of complemental clamping elementsof which theother is carried by the section12 of the casing but is disengageabletherefrom to permit the selective use of different elements where thevarying widths of springs are encountered.

The said complemental element consists of a plate 29 formed with asleeve portion 30 through which the bolt 28 also passes. .The lower endof the plate 29 is formed` with a transversely J-shaped lower portion 31for ment from its connected-section-of the casing is not possible.

By the selection of a clamping element having a plate portion 29.of.ythe proper thickness, the desired spacing of the two ..complementalclampingl elements may be se- 1 cured to suitfthe width ofthe spring inhand, v

clamping elem-ents having different thick- .nesses `.for the.A plateportion 29 being 20.I part `of the equipment lof .the device. .Since thesleeve portions 27 and `30 of .the .complemental `clamping elements aredirected toward each other, the clamping element. interlocked with thesection 25.1.2fof the casing-isnot attached until after :the casing is.positioned with the sleeve portion 27 of the plate 26'. disposed inoverhanging relation. to the spring 34, as indicatedin dotted lines. inFigure .3. rlhere- 30 after, the clamping` element. having the sleeve30vis disposed beside the spring with .the sleeve overhanging 4the latterand then ...slid `into place with the J-sliapedportion 31 interlockingwith .the corresponding portion 35 32 of the section12. The finaloperation is theattachmentof the bolt 28 and when the nut of the latteris firmly screwed home, the

device is rigidlyattached to thespring of :the.vehicle,.and it .may beeither the for- 10 ward or` rear spring, dependingon whether fthedeviceis attached to be used as a means for towing disabled. vehicles or to beusedy as ameans to. permit the vehicle so equipped,

f when idisabled, .to be .towed by` another machine.

When the tow line is not in use, it will be woundon the reel bygthespring. l1, but ,when in use .it isunwound from `the reel by ,the pull.imposed inthe towing operation.

:Should thespeed-of the vtowing and towed .vehicles varyfso that aslaclrwould ordinarily be produced in .the tow line or cable, thespringk will immediately function to take -up this slack.

@Theppreferable means of anchoring the ztowline to the reel .consists ininsert-ing the extremity of: theline.v or :cable through a transverse ordiametrical holeor eye in the hub 1.6,. as .shown` at 375.

Asa .meansf for. securing. vthe sections of the casing. together, thelatterare provided with -ears 36 -formed with eyes through which thesecuring bolt 37 passes. rlhe ears 36 are "disposed at a diametricallyopposite 65 point from the spring engaging clamp but the securing bolt37 and the clamp bolt 28 function together as a means for holding theelements of the casing in proper relation.

The slot 2O in the journal portion 19 of the shaft 15 makes for the easyconnection of the shaft with the spring in the assembling of the deviceand for the ready 'dismantling of the device andthe tensioning of thespring to secure the desired torque on the-reelto wind upthe-towlineunder all conditions.

The invention having been described, what is claimed as new and usefulis:

1. yA ydevice .for Lthe purpose indicated comprising a spring-actuatedreel and a tow line wound thereon,v a. casing housing. `the-reel, and aclamp carriedby the 4casing forsecuring the same, toa partV of,.a.`vehiclesaid clamp consisting of complemental members of which one isformedasan,integral part of the casingand the other has. agdetachableinterlocking connection with the casing.

2., A device fori the y.. purposelindicated comprising a casing.consisting of Vcomplemental sections andy means .for securing lthemtogether, aV reel carrying :a `tow.' lineand housed by one of. the.sections and .having a shaft journaled in botli;,sections,.,aspringhoused by the othersectioniof the casing. and

terminally connected with ythe; latter and with the shaft, anda clamp.carriedVV byy Ithe casing for connecting .the latterto. aipart of avehicle.

V3. A device for.fthe purpose indicated comprising` acasi1 ig,.a.reelhavingia shaft journaled in the side walls of the casingand being.axially Vslotted at. one. en'd,.,a,.,sp`ring housed by the casing andterminally .secured thereto,:. a collar, .in Isurrounding relation tothe slotted portion of the shaft, a bolt pass-U` ing @diametrically-,through .the collar; and through kthe slot inthe shaftthe springhaving,a Aterminal .connection with .the bolt, and a clamp carried. by the.casinozffor .securing the latter to a part of the vehicle. Y

t. A device for. the l purpose ,indicated comprising a springfactnatedreehand` a housing enclosing fthe Isame, a .tow line wound on the reeland extended through an opening formed in the. casing, and a clamp-4carried bythe casingfor connecting, the

latter to the spring of a vehicle, said, clamp comprising complement'almembers of which one is formed tas an integral4 part. ofthe casing andthe other ,provided Witha transversely J -shaped c portionAinterlocking' .with the correspondingly .shaped .portion integrallyformed with -the casing,.i anda bolt engaging the elements of `the'clamp.

5. A device for thepurposeindicated comprisingl a springfactuatd.reel,and a housing enclosing ,the same, a 1 tow Aline .wound on ythereel and`extended through an opening formed in `the casing, and a clamp carriedby the casing for connecting the latter to the spring of a vehicle, saidclamp comprising complemented members of which one is formed as anintegral part of the casing and the other provided With a transverselyJ-shaped portion interlocking with the correspondingly shaped portionintegrzilly formed with the casing, and a bolt engaging the elements ofthe clamp, said clamp elements being provided with sleeve portionsdisposed in ovf'arhanging` relation to the vehicle Spring When thedevice is attacked thereto.

In testimony whereof he afxes his signature.

WILLIAM SCI-IWIER.

